Knowledge, attitudes, and confidence levels of dental hygiene students regarding teledentistry: A pilot study

Abstract

Teledentistry provides a viable option for dental professionals to increase care in underserved areas. Dental hygiene students at a state university completed a course in teledentistry that includes performing oral health screenings on children using intraoral cameras and electronic submission of dental images to an off-site dentist for diagnosis. Purpose: The objectives of this study were to examine student knowledge, attitudes, and confidence levels before and after completion of a course on teledentistry. Method: A 5-point Likert scale survey consisting of 10 items was administered to students ages twenty-two to twenty-five (N=24) in a teledentistry course the first and last day of class. The survey included current knowledge of teledentistry, attitudes regarding effectiveness of teledentistry, and confidence in acquiring the necessary technical skills. Results: Survey results were analyzed using a matched-pairs t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There were significant increase in student knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in 9 of the 10 questions (p<.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that student attitudes were positively changed in their knowledge of the effectiveness of teledentistry in identifying dental needs in underserved areas, the role dental hygienists play in access to care, and confidence in acquiring and submitting dental images. These findings, in conjunction with research by other investigators, support continued implementation of teledentistry in dental hygiene education.

Teledentistry content in Canadian dental and dental hygiene curricula

“…In the present study, the lecture format was identified as the most utilized delivery approach for teaching teledentistry in Canada, followed by hands‐on practice and small group discussion. This also aligns with the findings of reviewing other literature from different countries, including US and Brazil 12,28,32–35 . Moreover, survey results indicated that hands‐on practice was only applied in dental hygiene schools in Canada.…”

“…Meanwhile, despite teledentistry's effectiveness in different stages of treatment, it is mostly utilized in the teleconsultation format 22–24 and with the aim of improving access to care 3,13 . Additionally, these findings are consistent with reviewing the literature on teledentistry educational programs in other countries, which indicates that dental hygienists are targeted more frequently for this content 9,12,25–28 …”

“…3,13 Additionally, these findings are consistent with reviewing the literature on teledentistry educational programs in other countries, which indicates that dental hygienists are targeted more frequently for this content. 9,12,[25][26][27][28] In order to equip all oral health care professionals with the necessary skills around TD, it is crucial for their educational programs to employ appropriate teaching approaches that mirror real-life scenarios. 29 Techniques such as hands-on practice and simulation are recommended to ensure TD practice and to supplement traditional lecture-based teaching methods that are commonly used in dental education.…”

“…This also aligns with the findings of reviewing other literature from different countries, including US and Brazil. 12,28,[32][33][34][35] Moreover, survey results indicated that hands-on practice was only applied in dental hygiene schools in Canada. However, the employment of hands-on practice techniques in TD education for dental students is reported in previous literature from other countries.…”

“…Similarly, our survey indicated that only 22.2% of programs with TD content had any assessment for this topic in Canada. 25,26,28,35,36 Those programs with assessments mostly employed a combination of methods, with examination being the most used format. Surveys and self-reflections were also employed to evaluate students' knowledge of TD in other studies.…”